Emergency underwater escape vehicle

ABSTRACT

A submarine construction of generally conventional overall configuration but differing from the usual submarine construction in that it includes a forward end portion which is removably attached to the remainder of the submarine and includes its own propulsion motor, control station and torpedo tubes. The removable front or forward section is designed to be utilized as an escape vessel should the rear end portion of the submarine be severely damaged and the rear bulkhead of the forward end portion and the opposing bulkhead include registered, sealed and openable hatches whereby communication between the main submarine hull and the forward end portion of the submarine may be established.

United States Patent Migliaccio et al.

[ 51 July 25, 1972 [54] EMERGENCY UNDERWATER ESCAPE VEHICLE [72]Inventors: Luigi Migliaccio; Edward P. Mlgliaccio, both of 78 WayneAve., Paterson, NJ. 07522 [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1970 [21] Appl.No.:71,652

[52] U.S. C1 ..1l4/l6.7, 114/17 [51] Int. Cl ..B63g 8/40 [58]FieldofSearch ..1l4/16R, 16E,16.4, 16.6,

ll4/16.7, l7, 16.8,117, 235 R, 235 B, 77 R [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,551,750 5/1951 Liskey ..ll4/l17X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 7,051 0/1914 Great Britain ..l 14/16 R PrimaryExaminer-Trygve M. Blix Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B.Jacobson [5 7] ABSTRACT A submarine construction of generallyconventional overall configuration but differing from the usualsubmarine construction in that it includes a forward end portion whichis removably attached to the remainder of the submarine and includes itsown propulsion motor, control station and torpedo tubes. The removablefront or forward section is designed to be utilized as an escape vesselshould the rear end portion of the submarine bevseverely damaged and therear bulkhead of the forward end portion and the opposing bulkheadinclude registered, sealed and openable hatches whereby communicationbetween the main submarine hull and the forward end portion of thesubmarine may be established.

14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Pmnted J l 25, 1972 BEST AVAILABLE COPY 3,68 8 3 Sheets-Shoot 1 Fig./ E

28 Luigi Mig/iacc/b Edward I? M'g/Ibccio INVESTORS BEST AVAILABLE copy78,8

3 Shuts-Shut 2 Patentad July 25, 1972 Lang! M/g/mccm Edward P MigliaccioEMERGENCY UNDERWATER ESCAPE VEHICLE The emergency underwater escapevessel of the instant invention is constructed so as to comprise theforward end section of a submarine hull also including rear and centersections. The complete hull including rear, center and forward endsections as the configuration of a conventional submarine and includesrear propulsion means, a central control station and forwardly extendingtorpedo tubes whose rear ends are disposed in the center section of thehull. The front section is removably supported from the forward end ofthe central section and the front and central sections include opposingrear and forward bulkheads, respectively, disposed in spaced relationand provided with openable and registered water-tight hatches forpassage between the front section and the center section of the hullwhen the front section is sealingly anchored to the forward end of thecenter section.

The forward diving planes of the hull are carried by the forward hullsection and the forward hull section further includes an upper finincluding upstanding rudder means. In addition, the forward sectionincludes its own supply of torpedoes and closable rear door means forthe rear ends of the sections of the torpedo tubes extending through theforward section.

Also, suitable means is provided whereby torpedoes stored in the forwardsection may be moved from a storage location in the forward section intothe forward end portions of the torpedo tubes disposed in the forwardsection. Still further, a large diameter water passageway extendscentrally through the center of the forward section and has a centrallydisposed propeller shaft journalled therein. The propeller shaft isprovided with marine propeller means and the forward section includesauxiliary motor means drivingly connected to the propeller shaft of theforward section whereby the forward section, after being uncoupled fromthe center and rear sections of the hull, can be navigated as a completeunderwater vehicle and utilized as an attack vessel with its ownweapons.

The main object of this invention is to provide a submarine hull with adetachable forward end portion provided with its own life-sustainingequipment, weapons and propulsion system as well as suitable controlswhereby the forward section may be entered by the crew of the submarinein the event the center or rear section of the submarine is severelydamaged and the forward section may thereafter be uncoupled from theforward end of the center section of the hull of the submarine andutilized as an auxiliary underwater fighting craft as well as an escapevessel.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide a submarine bull including a detachablefonrvard end portion provided with a novel propulsion system of its own.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an underwater vesselof the submarine type which will conform to conventional forms ofmanufacture and whose basic principles may be readily incorporated intosubstantially all types of submarines.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a submarine constructed in accordancewith the present invention with the forward hull section thereof beingdetached from the remainder of the hull and a surface position of theforward end section illustrated in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the forward section of thesubmarine and the adjacent forward end portion of the center hullsection of the submarine;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional viewtaken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of theassemblage illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the removable forward hull section;

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse vertical sectional viewillustrating one of the locking cams utilized in removably securing thefront section to the forward end of the center hull section; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 77 of FIG. 6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10generally designates a submarine hull constructed in accordance with thepresent invention. The hull 10 includes a central control section 12, arear propulsion section 14 and a removable front section 16. The rearpropulsion section 14 includes conventional marine propulsion means 18driven by motor means (not shown) contained either within the section 12or the section 14 and the rear section 14 further includes rudder means20 and diving plane means 22 operable by suitable controls (not shown)within the section 12.

The section 12 includes the usual conning tower or mast 26 withconventional periscope, snorkel and radio masts and the forward or frontsection 16 includes at least somewhat conventional diving planes 28 withadjustable portions 30 under the control of a control station (notshown) within the section 12.

The front section 16 further includes an upstanding fin 32 with movablerudder means 34 and supplemental periscope, snorkel and radio masts.

From FIG. 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the center section 12includes a forward bulkhead 36 and that the front section 16 includes anopposing rear bulkhead 38. A pair of openable water-tight hatches 40 and42 close a pair of access openings 44 and 46 formed in the bulkheads 36and 38, respectively, and a short tube section 48 is securely fastenedto the front surface of the bulkhead 38 at one end and to the bulkhead38 at its other end whereby a horizontal communicating passage betweenthe openings 44 and 46 is defined. However, the front end of the tubesection 48 is secured to the rear surface of the bulkhead 38 in a mannersuch that the tube section 48 may break away from bulkhead 38 upondisengagement of the section 16 from the section 12.

The submarine hull 10 further includes a torpedo tube 50 extendingcompletely through the forward section 16 and terminating rearwardly inthe center section 12. The center section 12 includes conventionaltorpedo storage means (not shown) and means (not shown) for receivingtorpedoes in the rear ends of the torpedo tube 50. Further, the forwardend of the torpedo tube 50 includes an openable closure door 52. Thetorpedo tube 50 includes a rear section 54 within the center section 12and a forward section 56 extending through the front section 16 of thehull 10. The forward end of the rear section 54 terminates at thebulkhead 38 and the latter includes a swingable closure door 58 whichmay be swung into closed position in registry with the rear end of thefront torpedo tube section 56 after the front hull section 16 has beendisengaged from the center hull section 12. Also, the front section 16includes its own torpedo storage means 60 and the rear end portion ofthe front torpedo tube section 56 includes a removable section 62whereby torpedoes 64 within the torpedo storage means 60 may be shiftedfrom the latter into the rear end of the front section 56 to the torpedotube 50.

The front section 16 further includes a control room 66 and alongitudinally extending centrally disposed large diameter passageway 68extending longitudinally through the front section 16. The forward endof the passageway 68 is closable by means of laterally shiftable closuredoor sections 70 and the passageway 68 has a central propeller shaft 72journalled therein. The propeller shaft 72 has front and rear marinepropellers 74 and 76 mounted thereon and each of the propellers 74 and76 is provided with reversible pitch propeller blades.

A bevel gear 78 is carried by the propeller shaft 72 and is meshed witha bevel gear 80 carried by a power transverse shaft 82 driven by anannular motor rotor 84 through meshed engagement of teeth 86 carried bythe rotor 84 and a second bevel gear 90 mounted on the upper end of theshaft 82.

The motor rotor 84 may be of any suitable type for underwater propulsionand it may be seen that the rear end portion of the passageway 68 isflared as at 92 and tapered at its rear end portion as at 94. The rearend portion 94 of the tube 86 includes adjustable vertical rudder means96 as well as adjustable horizontal diving plane means 98 and it maytherefore be seen that the rotor means 34, diving plane means 30, ruddermeans 96 and diving plane means 98 may all be utilized in maneuveringthe front section 16 when the latter is uncoupled from the section 12.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 2 of the drawingsit may be seen that the center section 12 includes a plurality ofperipherally spaced forwardly opening notches 100 and that the frontsection 16 includes a plurality of corresponding peripherally spacedtongues 102 which are receivable in the notches 100 to securely lock thefront section 16 in position relative to the section 12 against angulardisplacement about a longitudinal axis. Further, with attention nowinvited more specifically to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, it may beseen that the center section 12 includes a forwardly openingperipherally extending groove 106 in which a pair of rearwardlyprojecting concentric rings 108 carried by and projecting rearwardlyfrom the bulkhead 38 are received. The rings 108 have an inflatableannular seal 110 disposed therebetween and suitable fluid conduit means112 is provided and communicated with the interior of the tubular seal110 through a valve 124. Thus, the annular seal 110 may be readilyinflated from within the section 16.

The peripheral groove 106 of the section 12 is defined in part by anannular wall section 116 and the forward surface of the annular wallsection 116 defines a rearwardly facing cam surface with which rotatablelocking lugs 118 carried by the bulkhead 38 are operatively associated.The locking lugs 118 are carried by operating shaft portions 120 offluid motors 122 carried by the bulkhead 38 and accordingly, the fluidmotors 122 may be actuated so as to oscillate the shaft portions 120 andthus swing the locking lugs 118 into and out of the locked positionsthereof illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. Of course, whenthe locking lugs 118 are pivoted to the unlocked positions thereofillustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the front section 16 may bebroken away from the section 12.

Of course, when the locking lugs 118 are pivoted to the open positionsillustrated in FIG. 4, the forward end of the rear section 54 of thetorpedo tube 50 must break away from the bulkhead 38 and the forward endof the tube section 48 must also break away from the bulkhead 38. Inaddition, numerous frangible but watertight service and controlcomponents extending between the sections 12 and 16 are provided but notshown and are of a type to break away upon disengagement of the section16 from the section 12. Of course, these various controls are utilizedin controlling the operation and functioning of the entire hull untilsuch time as the section 16 is broken away from the section 12. Ofcourse, after the section 16 has broken away from the section 12, thesection 16 is fully operative on its own and may be utilized solely asan escape craft for the hull 10 or as a supplemental attack craft. Inaddition to being provided with its own torpedoes, the front section 16may also include other offensive weapons (not shown). Further, it is tobe understood that the front section 16 includes various controls (notshown) for operation of the motor rotor 84, the various periscope,snorkel and radio masts of the front section 16 and the firing oftorpedoes 64 from the front section 56 of the torpedo tube 50. Also,other controls for controlling the various diving planes and rudders aswell as other maneuvering controls will be included in the front section16 for supporting its operation when it is detached from the frontsection 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An underwater vessel including an elongated hull having a centersection as well as front and rear sections and marine propulsion meansat its rear section with attendant rudder means, the front section beingreleasably anchored to the front end of the center section, said centersection including forward bulkhead means closing its front end and saidfront section including rear bulkhead means closing its rear end,coacting peripheral seal means carried by the peripheral portions of theopposing ends of said center section and front section forming a fluidtight pressure seal between said front and center section, saidbulkheads including openable sealed hatches for establishingcommunication between said center and front sections while said frontsection is anchored to said center section, a generally centrallydisposed passage extending lengthwise through said front section andhaving second marine propulsion means operatively associated therewithfor pumping water through said passage in at least a rearward direction.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second marine propulsionmeans is reversible for pumping water through said passage in a forwarddirection.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a retractable door assemblyoperatively associated with the forward end of said passage forselectively opening and closing the latter.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein centrally disposed passageextending lengthwise through said front section and having second marinepropulsion means operatively associated therewith for pumping waterthrough said passage in at least a rearward direction, said frontsection includes rearwardly displaced rudder means and also diving planemeans.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said marine propulsion meanscomprises a central shaft journalled in said passage and having marinepropeller means mounted thereon adjacent the rear end of said passage.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said marine propeller meanscomprises a propeller hub mounted on said shaft and provided withgenerally radial blades, said blades being supported from said hub forrotation about the axes extending through said blades and disposedgenerally upon radii of the axis of rotation of said shaft.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said propeller means is disposedforward of the rear terminal end of said passage, the rear terminal endof said passage including upstanding adjustable rudder means andgenerally horizontal adjustable diving plane means.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said seal means includes aninflatable continuous frame-type seal member disposed between saidperipheral portions.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said front and center sectionsinclude coacting rotatable locking dogs and cam surfaces respectivelyspaced about said peripheral portions removably securing said frontsection to said center section.

10. An underwater vessel including an elongated hull having a centersection as well as front and rear sections and marine propulsion meansat its rear section with attendant rudder means, the front section beingreleasably anchored to the front end of the center section, said centersection including forward bulkhead means closing its front end and saidfront section including rear bulkhead means closing its rear end,coacting peripheral seal means carried by the peripheral portions of theopposing ends of said center section and front section forming a fluidtight pressure seal between said front and center section, saidbulkheads including openable sealed hatches for establishingcommunication between said center and front sections while said frontsection is anchored to said center section, said vessel including aforwardly opening torpedo tube extending through said forward sectionand rearwardly into said center section, said tube including front andrear end portions removably joined together at their rear and frontends, respectively, between said bulkheads, said front section includingtorpedo storage means and means operatively associated with said tuberear end portion and storage means for shifting a torpedo from saidstorage means into the rear end of the tube rear end portion.

11. The combination of claim including a generally centrally disposedpassage extending lengthwise through said front section and havingsecond marine propulsion means operatively associated therewith forpumping water through said passage in at least a rearward direction.

12. An underwater vessel including an elongated hull having a centersection as well as front and rear sections and marine propulsion meansat its rear section with attendant rudder means, the front section beingreleasably anchored to the front end of the center section, said centersection including forward bulkhead means closing its front end and saidfront section including rear bulkhead means closing its rear end, and agenerally centrally disposed passage extending lengthwise through saidfront section and having second marine propulsion means operativelyassociated therewith for pumping water through said passage in at leasta rearward direction.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said front section includesrearwardly displaced rudder meansand also diving plane means.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said marine propulsion meanscomprises a central shaft journalled in said passage and having marinepropeller means mounted thereon adjacent the rear end of said passage,said marine propeller means comprising a propeller hub mounted on saidshaft and provided with generally radial blades, said blades beingsupported from said hub for rotation about the axes extending throughsaid blades and disposed generally upon radii of the axis of rotation ofsaid shaft.

1. An underwater vessel including an elongated hull having a centersection as well as front and rear sections and marine propulsion meansat its rear section with attendant rudder means, the front section beingreleasably anchored to the front end of the center section, said centersection including forward bulkhead means closing its front end and saidfront section including rear bulkhead means closing its rear end,coacting peripheral seal means carried by the peripheral portions of theopposing ends of said center section and front section forming a fluidtight pressure seal between said front and center section, saidbulkheads including openable sealed hatches for establishingcommunication between said center and front sections while said frontsection is anchored to said center section, a generally centrallydisposed passage extending lengthwise through said front section andhaving second marine propulsion means operatively associated therewithfor pumping water through said passage in at least a rearward direction.2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second marine propulsionmeans is reversible for pumping water through said passage in a forwarddirection.
 3. The combination of claim 1 including a retractable doorassembly operatively associated with the forward end of said passage forselectively opening and closing the latter.
 4. The combination of claim1 wherein centrally disposed passage extending lengthwise through saidfront section and having second marine propulsion means operativelyassociated therewith for pumping water through said passage in at leasta rearward direction, said front section includes rearwardly displacedrudder means and also diving plane means.
 5. The combination of claim 1wherein said marine propulsion means comprises a central shaftjournalled in said passage and having marine propeller means mountedthereon aDjacent the rear end of said passage.
 6. The combination ofclaim 5 wherein said marine propeller means comprises a propeller hubmounted on said shaft and provided with generally radial blades, saidblades being supported from said hub for rotation about the axesextending through said blades and disposed generally upon radii of theaxis of rotation of said shaft.
 7. The combination of claim 6 whereinsaid propeller means is disposed forward of the rear terminal end ofsaid passage, the rear terminal end of said passage including upstandingadjustable rudder means and generally horizontal adjustable diving planemeans.
 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said seal means includes aninflatable continuous frame-type seal member disposed between saidperipheral portions.
 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said frontand center sections include coacting rotatable locking dogs and camsurfaces respectively spaced about said peripheral portions removablysecuring said front section to said center section.
 10. An underwatervessel including an elongated hull having a center section as well asfront and rear sections and marine propulsion means at its rear sectionwith attendant rudder means, the front section being releasably anchoredto the front end of the center section, said center section includingforward bulkhead means closing its front end and said front sectionincluding rear bulkhead means closing its rear end, coacting peripheralseal means carried by the peripheral portions of the opposing ends ofsaid center section and front section forming a fluid tight pressureseal between said front and center section, said bulkheads includingopenable sealed hatches for establishing communication between saidcenter and front sections while said front section is anchored to saidcenter section, said vessel including a forwardly opening torpedo tubeextending through said forward section and rearwardly into said centersection, said tube including front and rear end portions removablyjoined together at their rear and front ends, respectively, between saidbulkheads, said front section including torpedo storage means and meansoperatively associated with said tube rear end portion and storage meansfor shifting a torpedo from said storage means into the rear end of thetube rear end portion.
 11. The combination of claim 10 including agenerally centrally disposed passage extending lengthwise through saidfront section and having second marine propulsion means operativelyassociated therewith for pumping water through said passage in at leasta rearward direction.
 12. An underwater vessel including an elongatedhull having a center section as well as front and rear sections andmarine propulsion means at its rear section with attendant rudder means,the front section being releasably anchored to the front end of thecenter section, said center section including forward bulkhead meansclosing its front end and said front section including rear bulkheadmeans closing its rear end, and a generally centrally disposed passageextending lengthwise through said front section and having second marinepropulsion means operatively associated therewith for pumping waterthrough said passage in at least a rearward direction.
 13. Thecombination of claim 12 wherein said front section includes rearwardlydisplaced rudder means and also diving plane means.
 14. The combinationof claim 12 wherein said marine propulsion means comprises a centralshaft journalled in said passage and having marine propeller meansmounted thereon adjacent the rear end of said passage, said marinepropeller means comprising a propeller hub mounted on said shaft andprovided with generally radial blades, said blades being supported fromsaid hub for rotation about the axes extending through said blades anddisposed generally upon radii of the axis of rotation of said shaft.